EP2402188A2

EP2402188A2 - Tarp system

Info

Publication number: EP2402188A2
Application number: EP11170960A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Scott Kartes; Timothy K. Searfoss
Original assignee: Roll Rite LLC
Current assignee: Roll Rite LLC
Priority date: 2010-06-30
Filing date: 2011-06-22
Publication date: 2012-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-22
Also published as: US8360502B2; EP2402188A3; CA2743081A1; AU2011202902B2; EP2402188B1; US20120001449A1; CA2743081C; AU2011202902A1

Abstract

A tarp system (10) with a pivoting arm assembly (18) having a housing (22) associated with a motor (24) and with a bent enclosure (36) with a flexible drive shaft (25) substantially within the enclosure (36), such as an extruded tube. The flexible drive shaft may be a flexible torque shaft or a universal joint connector. A first end (32) of the flexible drive shaft may be used in conjunction with the motor (24), preferably mounted away from the bend (36) in the enclosure (36) to minimize the envelope of the tarp system (10) around a container (12) of a trailer or rail car. A second end (44) of the flexible torque shaft or universal joint connector is attached to an axle shaft (28) for a roller or the like that is used in conjunction with a tarp.

Description

The present invention relates to a tarp systems for a container of trailers or railcars. More specifically, the present invention relates to an arm assembly with a universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft substantially within a bent enclosure used with a pivot arm tarp system.
Trucks and cabs pull trailers that often have tarp systems. Similarly, rail cars may have open top container cars for which tarp systems may be used. Tarps are well known for covering contents of a container of the trailers and railcars during transport. Roll tarps often include a tarp attached on an axle or roller to a side of a container. Tarp systems are well suited for local regulations that require a container to be covered while transporting contents of the container. But local regulations also often set side, front and corner restrictions on the envelope for the whole container with accessories.
For example, European and Australian regulations require a maximum envelope for containers of trailers. Similarly, rail cars have envelopes required to operate through tunnels and the like. This envelope includes additional accessories such as tarp systems. But containers of transfer trailers and railcars are often built for maximum volume since they typically haul light materials and will fill before they are over weight. Unfortunately, little space is left for incorporating a tarp system.
Automatic solutions for tarp operation are important as a safety and efficiency issue. One goal is to keep the trailer or railcar operators on the ground, rather than manually rolling and unrolling the tarp from a catwalk on the front of a container.
In typical powered tarp system, the motor is directly attached to the front of the axle. The motor is relatively big and bulky requiring a lot of space at the front corner to operate. The resulting geometry of such a motor may be outside the envelope defined by European or other regulations.
Multiple gearboxes, such as two 90 degree gearboxes were tried, but they still must square the corner with difficulties being in the required envelope. Also, the gears of required size cannot handle the necessary torque without reliability issues. Gear boxes used in association with corners of trailers often exceed the maximum allowable envelope for trailers.
Earlier Roll-Rite patents protect aspects of a motor and knuckle arm assembly to unroll to open and to roll to close the tarp to cover the contents of a container.
U.S. Patent 6,916,060 discloses arm assembly for a cover of a truck having a base, an intermediate segment, and an extension.
U.S. Patent 7,195,304 discloses roll tarp system for use on vehicles and trailers with rear doors or gates. The roll tarp system includes a tarp attached to a side of a container, a roller attached to the tarp opposite of the container, a rear inner arm pivotally attached to the container, a first bias member attached to the rear inner arm, a rear outer arm attached to the first bias member, a second bias member attached to the rear outer arm and rotatably connected to a rear end of the roller and a front support structure rotatably connected to a front end of the roller.
For jurisdictions with restrictions, suitable tarp systems must fit within envelope restrictions for an open top container.
The present disclosure provides a tarp system with a universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft within a bent enclosure. This system is well suited for envelope restrictions for a container. The tarp system may include some conventional components, such as a motor and a knuckle arm assembly, to help operate the tarp system.
A tarp system with a movable tarp, such as a roll tarp, is adapted to cover contents of a container. The tarp system has a pivoting arm attached to a portion of the container, a pivot or knuckle between an upper arm and the pivoting arm, wherein the upper arm can pivot relative to the pivoting arm. A housing is mounted on the upper arm, and a motor is associated with the housing to minimize an envelope of the tarp system around the container. A bent enclosure, such as a rigid tube extrusion, extends from the housing, and a universal joint connector or a flexible torque shaft is substantially inside the bent enclosure. The universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft may include a flexible portion within the enclosure between a rigid first end and a rigid second end. The first end of the universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft is functionally connected with the motor, and the second end can be attached to an axle that is used in conjunction with the tarp. The first end preferably passes through the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing. A set of bearings can surround the ends of a universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft relative to the enclosure.
The disclosed arm assembly and universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft in a bent enclosure allow components to operate within an envelope close to the container. With the disclosed upper arm assembly, the motor is located around the front corner of the container closer to the center of the whole assembly within the maximum envelope for containers and accessories as dictated by certain regulations. A relatively big and bulky component is located to accommodate space restrictions.
The universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft is easy and cost-effective to make, install and use with a low profile to a container.
In a first aspect, the present invention consists of a tarp system for use with an open top container of a trailer or rail car, comprising a movable tarp on an axle shaft adapted to cover contents of the container and a pivoting arm assembly that is designed to be attachable to the container. The pivoting arm assembly comprises a motor associated with a housing. Further the tarp system comprises a bent enclosure extending from the housing and a flexible drive shaft substantially inside the bent enclosure. A first end of the flexible drive shaft is functionally connected with the motor and a second end of the flexible drive shaft is attached to the axle shaft that is used in conjunction with the tarp. The axle shaft is rotating driven by the flexible drive shaft powered by the motor in order to wind the tarp 30 into a position, where the tarp covers the content of the container, and in reverse. The axle shaft would be on one side of the container with the tarp 30 in a closed position and on the opposite side of the container in the open position.
In a preferred embodiment the pivoting arm assembly comprises a pivoting arm pivotable relative to the container; an upper arm; a pivot between the upper arm and the pivoting arm; wherein the upper arm extends from the pivot and pivots relative to the pivoting arm; and the housing mounted on the upper arm.
Preferably, the motor is mounted on the housing to minimize an envelope of the tarp system around the container.
In one preferred embodiment, the flexible drive shaft comprises a universal joint connector. Preferably, the universal joint connector includes a series of universal joints having internal shafts within the bent enclosure between the first end and the second end.
In another preferred embodiment, the flexible drive shaft comprises a flexible torque shaft. Preferably, the flexible torque shaft includes a flexible portion within the enclosure between the first end that is rigid and the second end that is rigid.
Preferably, the first end of the flexible drive shaft passes through the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing and further comprising bearings in the enclosure surrounding the first end and the second end.
In a second aspect, the present invention consists of a tarp system attached to a container comprising a roll tarp on an axle, a pivoting arm assembly attached to the container; the pivoting arm assembly including a housing with a motor; a enclosure having a bend extending from the pivoting arm assembly; and a flexible drive shaft substantially inside the rigid enclosure; the flexible drive shaft with a first end connected to the motor and a second end attached to the axle.
Preferably, the enclosure is a rigid enclosure and/or is an extruded tube.
In a further embodiment the tarp system has a side-to-side knuckle arm assembly on a front side of the axle shaft 28.
Preferably the tarp system is attached to a container and the bent enclosure is designed in a way that its bend has a radius to facilitate moving around a corner of the container.
A container equipped with a tarp system as described herein can easily be prepared for loading and unloading and is in conformity with the regulations regarding the envelope of the container.
The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the disclosure itself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptions of systems taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:

Figure 1: shows a trailer with a tarp system according to the invention having a universal joint connector or a flexible torque shaft,
Figure 2: shows the trailer with the tarp system of figure 1 in more details;
Figure 3: shows a rear view of the trailer of figure 1 with the tarp system having an arm assembly with an enclosure for the universal joint connector or flexible torque shaft,
Figure 4: shows as a first embodiment of a flexible drive shaft a flexible torque shaft and enclosure assembly of the tarp system;
Figure 5: shows a flexible drive shaft connected to a pivoting arm assembly of the tarp system;
Figure 6: shows a motor orientation for the flexible drive shaft arm;
Figure 7: shows the situation of figure 6 with a shaft end connected to the housing on the arm without a motor mounted,
Figure 8: shows a perspective view of a 90 degree universal joint assembly as a second embodiment of the flexible drive shaft;
Figure 9: shows a partial cut-away view of the 90 degree universal joint assembly of figure 8; and
Figure 10: shows a partial cut-away view of a side view of a 90 degree universal joint assembly with outer bearings.
Figure 11: shows a partially un-winded tarp on its axial shaft, the axial shaft connected with the flexible drive shaft and enclosure assembly.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the disclosure that are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, the figures show, and herein described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present descriptions are to be considered exemplifications of the principles of the disclosure and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the figures.
As used herein, the term "flexible drive shaft" includes, but is not limited to, "flexible torque shafts" and "universal joint connectors". Flexible drive shafts can transmit rotary motion through a bent enclosure.
Figures 1 through 3 show a tarp system 10 attached to a container 12, an arm 14 pivotably attached to the container 12, a pivot 16 (may be called a knuckle) and an upper arm assembly 18. The upper arm assembly includes an upper arm 20 (may be called a knuckle arm, which may pivot relative to the arm 14), a housing 22, and a motor 24 associated with the housing 22 adapted for use with a flexible drive shaft (25) such as flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27. The flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27 curves around the container 12 to attach to an axle shaft 28 for a tarp 30. The low profile of the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27 in an enclosure 36 can be seen in Figure 3.
A first end 32 of the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27 passes through the housing 22 and is rotatable relative to the housing 22. The first end 32 preferably operates in conjunction with a motor 24 mounted in association with the housing 22. Bearings 34 preferably surround the shaft 26 at each end of the enclosure 36. As an example, the housing 22 can be shaped like an outbox with one wall part of the upper arm 20.
The motor 24 is described as associated with the housing 22 since the motor 24 may be mounted on the upper arm 20 or to the housing 22 or otherwise near an inner end of the enclosure 36. With the disclosed upper arm assembly 18, the motor 24 is located away from the corner 40 (i.e. front corner of a trailer) of the container 12 closer to the center of the upper arm assembly 18 to help stay within the maximum envelope for containers and accessories as dictated by certain regulations. A relatively big and bulky component like the motor 24 is located away from the corner 40 to accommodate space restrictions for streamlined operations regardless of such envelope restrictions. Functionally, the motor 24 is connected to the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27 to operate the axle shaft 28 for opening and closing a tarp 30.
From the housing 22 to the axle shaft 28 for a tarp 30, the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27 may be enclosed in an enclosure 36 that is preferably substantially tubelike, rigid extrusion with a bend 38 having a radius to facilitate moving around a corner 40, such as top/front edge, of the container 12. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a flexible shaft and enclosure/extrusion assembly. In one embodiment, a flexible portion 42 may be encased within the enclosure 36 (as a rigid extrusion), such as primarily within the bend 38 for protection from wear and the elements. As such, the flexible portion 42 may be affixed to a rigid first end 32 that serves as a shaft to the motor 24. Similarly, the flexible portion 42 may be affixed to a rigid second end 44 that connects to the axle shaft 28 of the tarp 30.
To avoid interference of the upper arm assembly 18 with a corner 40 of the container 12, a resilient means 50 such as the springs in the pivot 16, such as a knuckle, of the arms 14 and 20 can hold the radius of the enclosure 36 (as a rigid extrusion) extending from upper arm 20 far enough above the corner 40 that the upper arm assembly 18 with the enclosure 36 and the corner 40 do not interfere with each other.
The arm 14 may be pivotably mounted on a base plate 48 that holds the arm 14 away from the container 12. The rigid aspect of the enclosure 36 can also keep the housing 22 away from the container 12. Thus, both arms 14 and 20 and the pivot 16 can operate without contacting the container 12.
The housing 22 and enclosure 36 (as a rigid extrusion) for the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27 can ideally be a one-piece enclosure. One option is to use a thick-walled extruded aluminum tube, machine out the ends for bearing pockets for a set of bearings 34, insert the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27, and bend the tube to the desired radius to form bend 38. The set of bearings 34 can be housed in the example rigid extrusion enclosure 36. Fins 46 can also be used to rigidly connect the enclosure 36 to the housing 22.
Figure 6 shows a view of a motor 24 affixed in association with the housing 22 functionally connected to the first end 32 of the flexible torque shaft 26 or universal joint connector 27. The motor 24 is a distance from the bend 38 in the enclosure 36 so the motor 24 remains clear of any corner 40 of the container 12.
Figure 7 shows the assembly of figure 6 in a slightly different perspective without the motor 24, so that the bearing 34 of the first end 32 of the flexible drive shaft 25 in the housing 22 of the motor is visible.
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a 90 degree universal joint assembly with an enclosure 36 having a substantially internal universal joint connector 27.
As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the universal joint connector 27 preferably includes a series of universal joints 29 with internal shafts 31. The universal joint connector 27 may include ends 32 and 44. The universal joint connector 27 is a flexible drive shaft 25 that transmits rotation between smaller shafts 31 whose axes are substantially coplanar but not necessarily coinciding. As such, the universal joint connector 27 can be contained inside an enclosure 36 with ends 32 and 44 extending from the enclosure 36. The internal shafts 31 have limited freedom of movement within the enclosure 36 that may be bent while transmitting rotary motion between the shafts. As prudent, the enclosure 36 may have cylinders 33 to encase the end shafts adjacent to ends 32 and 44. The series of universal joints 29 can provide motion where higher torque may be needed.
A side-to-side knuckle arm assembly can be used on a front side of the axle shaft 28 as such as with a roller or reel as a means to actuate a tarp 30, such as a roll tarp. The assembly can allow the tarp 30 to be wound upon a roller that moves in an opening direction or in reverse to unwind to close the tarp 30. The axle shaft 28 would be on one side of the container 12 with the tarp 30 in a closed position and on the opposite side of the container 12 in the open position.
The present disclosure eliminates or relocates components that might exceed the envelope or otherwise extend far from an open top container of a trailer or railcar.
This disclosure has been described as having exemplary embodiments and is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations using its general principles. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims. Further, this disclosure is intended to cover such variations from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains.

Claims

A tarp system (10) for use with an open top container (12) of a trailer or rail car, comprising:
• a roll tarp (30) on an axle shaft (28) adapted to cover contents of the container

• a pivoting arm assembly (18) that is designed to be attachable to the container (12); the pivoting arm assembly including a motor (24) associated with a housing (22);

• an enclosure (36) having a bend (38) extending from the pivoting arm assembly (18); and

• a flexible drive shaft (25) substantially inside the bent enclosure (36); the flexible drive shaft (25) having a first end (32) functionally connected with the motor (24) and a second end (44) attached to the axle shaft (28) that is used in conjunction with the tarp (30).
The tarp system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting arm assembly (18) comprises:
• a pivoting arm (14) arranged pivotable relative to the container (12);

• an upper arm (20);

• a pivot (16) between the upper arm (20) and the pivoting arm (14); wherein the upper arm (20) extends from the pivot (16) and pivots relative to the pivoting arm (14);
and wherein

• the housing (22) is mounted on the upper arm (20);

• the bent enclosure (36) extending from the housing (22).
The tarp system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the motor (24) is mounted on the housing (22) to minimize an envelope of the tarp system (10) around the container (12).
The tarp system (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the first end (32) of the flexible drive shaft (25) passes through the housing (22) and is rotatable relative to the housing (22) and further comprising bearings (34) in the enclosure (36) surrounding the first end (32) and the second end (44).
The tarp system (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the enclosure is rigid and/or an extruded tube.
The tarp system (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible drive shaft (25) comprises a universal joint connector (27).
The tarp system (10) of claim 6, wherein the universal joint connector (27) includes a series of universal joints (29) having internal shafts (31) within the bent enclosure (36) between the first end (32) and the second end (44).
The tarp system (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible drive shaft (25) comprises a flexible torque shaft (26).
The tarp system (10) according to claim 6, wherein the flexible torque shaft (26) includes a flexible portion (42) within the bent enclosure (36) between the first end (32) that is rigid and the second end (44) that is rigid.
The tarp system (10) according to one of the precedent claims, having a side-to-side knuckle arm assembly on a front side of the axle shaft 28.
A tarp system (10) according to one of the precedent claims attached to a container (12), wherein the bent enclosure (36) is designed in away that its bend (38) having a radius to facilitate moving around a corner (40) of the container (12).
A container (12) equipped with a tarp system (10) according to one of the precedent claims.